Kathmandu, Aug. 13 -- But, rather than using these serious allegations as a starting point to conduct an independent parliamentary inquiry into potential executive interference in the judiciary, the committee spent more than four hours deliberating the motives of the watchdog groups. By the end of the lengthy session, the committee reached a controversial decision that these three international organisations should furnish clarification. The decision drew severe criticism from civil society, legal experts, and constitutional observers across the country.

A body constitutionally mandated to keep the executive in check had effectively transformed itself into a shield for the government, asking state authorities to demand answers from the i...